A 'mystery witness' today made shocking disclosures at an inquest into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, that he was tortured by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers at the agency's office on the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam here.

T Sivanesan, 23, an assistant manager with Kuantan-based Puncak Rezeki Makmur Sdn Bhd, said he was punched all over the body while his genitals were "whipped" with an iron rod wrapped in newspapers.

NONE "At the time, I was wearing just an underwear while my hands were handcuffed to my back. I was also kicked and punched all over the body by about 10 to 15 men.

"At one time, an officer asked me to wear my shirt as the MACC deputy director was around. However, the deputy director retorted, 'Just continue. What are you scared of?'," said the witness.

Sivanesan is the 'mystery witness' whom lawyer Gobind Singh Deo had yesterday said he would produce in court today.

He said the aim of the 'mystery witness' was to shed light on the methods of questioning by MACC officers and thus, show that there had been inconsistencies in the testimony provided by MACC enforcement officer Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus during the course of the inquest.

Gobind is holding a watching brief for Teoh's family.

Teoh, 30, a political aide to Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam here on July 16.

He had been questioned by MACC officers overnight, pertaining to alleged abuse of state funds in the Selangor government at the Selangor MACC office located on the 14th floor of the same building.

Sivanesan said he was tortured for two days on Sept 4 and 5, last year, after which he was questioned for another three days.

Ice cubes inside his underwear

The witness said that on Sept 4, last year, three MACC officers known as Ashraf, Zulkifli and J, took him from his house (Sivanesan's) in Klang to the MACC office in Plaza Masalam.

"After I was brought to a room, an MACC officer told me in Tamil that if I did not speak the truth, the place will be hell. I was ordered to sign a detention and arrest letter.

NONE "However, I refused to do so as I was told that I was brought there to assist in an investigation and not to be detained.

"I was then slapped by another officer when I still refused to sign the letter. Following this, the officer ordered me to strip to my underwear," he said.

Sivanesan said that subsequently, harsh words were hurled at him before he was blindfolded with a towel and his genitals whipped by Ashraf.

"I endured the pain for almost 20 minutes," he added.

The witness said he fainted from the beatings and when he was awakened at 6am, the following day, he found ice cubes in a plastic bag in his underwear.

Sivanesan said that on the second day, MACC officers used similar methods to torture him, causing his underwear to be torn in front and behind, due to the whippings on his genitals, he added.

The witness then produced the underwear in court.

Hospitalised for four days

"I was also punched in the abdomen, buttocks and head, before an officer slapped me at the corridor of the MACC.

"When another officer said the deputy director was around, the officer replied that he (deputy director) was also there, the previous day.

"After the beatings I was given a Panadol pill and an ointment. I lodged a police report typed by my uncle, Muthiah, after I was released," he said.

Sivanesan said he was hospitalised for four days at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) in Klang for injuries on the head, kidneys and genitals.

"My uncle asked me to take pictures of the injuries. I also lodged complaints with Suaram, Suhakam and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Deparment T Murugiah, through the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB)," he said.

Asked which of the four bodies pursued the matter, Sivanesan said only the PCB headed by Murugiah conducted an investigation.

Five MACC officers lodge police report

Later this afternoon, five MACC officers, including Mohd Ashraf, lodged a police report at the Shah Alam police headquarters.

Selangor MACC director, Jaafar Mahad said the officers lodged the report at 4.30pm refuting the allegation that MACC officers' had used force during interrogation.

"We are refuting the allegation that we tortured the suspect. The statement made during the inquest proceedings was ill-intent and meant to mar the reputation of the MACC," he told reporters after accompanying the officers to the police headquarters to lodge the report.

Meanwhile, a lawyer holding a watching brief for the Selangor government, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, said he would call a renowned Thai forensic pathologist, Pornthip Rojanasunand, to testify on Monday, besides HTAR pathologist Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim.

The proceeding before Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas continues tomorrow with MACC lawyer Abdul Razak Musa's cross-examination of Sivanesan.

- Bernama